Technology continues to change the world of work, something which isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. Innovations in artificial intelligence, collaboration tools and other technologies will alter not only how we work, but the types of jobs available to us.

One technology that has long been predicted to make an impact, but is only really starting to mature, is Virtual Reality (VR). We are now a few generations into the technology, and with VR Headsets like the Oculus Quest becoming very popular, this represents an affordable new work tool that costs less than most laptops.

VR is already being used in workplaces. Companies have been using VR to train employees in emergency procedures, allowing workers to interact with their environment and make mistakes while learning in a safe, controlled environment. Another example is the training of assembly workers where margins of error are small, to ensure they are prepared beforehand. The Royal Mail have even been training postal works to deal with dog attacks using VR.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a branch of VR where an enhanced version of the physical world is used as opposed to an immersive headset. Visual displays and sounds are overlayed upon the real world, responding in real time to movements and tasks. This can be delivered via a dedicated visor like the Microsoft HoloLens or simply through a tablet or smartphone.

Many believe that AR is going to have a bigger impact on work than VR. AR is already being used in a range of workplaces. One of the earliest uses of AR in the workplace has been in warehouses, guiding staff more quickly by overlaying directions to an item or package. It’s also being used in areas like medical education, technical repairs and product design. There have been concerns regarding worker privacy with AR in particular though, as employer could use it to track workers throughout the day.

I’ve recently acquired a VR headset to see what it can do practically in the workplace. It’s clearly still a work in progress, but there is already a choice of cheap work applications available. For example, there are apps for 3D design, workplace meetings and presentations.

The most useful for many will be tools like Virtual Desktop and Spatial. These allow users to connect to their desktop work environments and work in Virtual Reality, managing spreadsheets, browsing the internet etc. With VR now becoming far more affordable, it’s still difficult to tell just how far it will change the world of work, but it’s clearly going to grow.